Motor vehicle unauthorized alarm system

ABSTRACT

An alarm system for motor vehicles comprising an electrical multicontact key switch having at least four positions, and a relay actuated by the passage of electric current through the switch, wherein current passes into an ignition circuit to provide means for effecting vehicle drive on rotation of the switch into an initial position, and on further rotation current is partially diverted into circuits which operate to raise an alarm should the vehicle be tampered with.

United States Patent Draper 1 Mar. 14, 1972 [541 MOTOR VEHICLEUNAUTHORIZED [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Ernest William Draper,337 Queen Street, 2 583 752 "1952 S mith ..340/64 Bmbane, Queenslands4000' Austral 2,385,285 9/1945 Kolias ..340/64 [22] Filed: Jan. 9, 1970Primary Examiner-Alvin H. Waring Appl' L576 Attorney-John M. Brandt [30]Foreign Application Priority Data ABSTRACT May 15, i969 Australia..55084/69 alarm System for motor Vehicles comprising elecu'ical Imulticontact key switch having at least four positions, and a [52 US. CL..340/64, 307/10, 200/42 relay actuated y the Passage of electriccurrent through the s 1 Int. Cl. .1. ..G08b 13/00 switch, whereincurrent passes into an ignition circuit to p [58 w f Search 340/ 3 54,5; 200/42, 43 vide means for effecting vehicle drive on rotation of theswitch I 200/44, 45; 307/10 into an initial position, and on furtherrotation current is par- SWITCH CONTACT tially diverted into circuitswhich operate to raise an alarm should the vehicle be tampered with.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures DISTRIBUTOR vPAT NTEmma14am 3,649,961

SHEET 1 0F 2 SWITCH CONTACT DISTRIBUTOR INVENTOR ERNEST WILLAM DRAPER fBY 761 FIG. I

ATTORNEY 'PAIENTEB ARM BYZ 3,649,961

' sum 2 0F 2 ALARM TIMER ALARM DISTRIBUTOR JINVENTOR F G. 2 ERNESTWILLIAM DRAPER ATTORNEY MOTOR VEHICLE UNAUTHORIZED ALARM SYSTEMBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l, Field of the Invention This invention isdirected to an improved safety alarm system for motor vehicles andrepresents a modification of the alarm system already disclosed in thespecification accompanying Australian patent application No. 43,370/68lodged under the name of the present inventor.

2. Description of the Prior Art The above prior art discloses a safetyalarm system for motor vehicles which consists of a three position sixcontact key switch coupled with means to pass current from a batterythrough the contacts of this switch to operate an alarm under certainelectric circuit conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present specification discloses an improvedform of safety alarm system for vehicles consisting of a four or morepositioned multicontact key switch which serves as a means for providingadded protection against unauthorized tampering with a motor vehicle.

In accordance with this invention, I provide a safety alarm system formotor vehicles comprising an electrical four or more positionedmulticontact key switch, and a relay actuated by the passage of electriccurrent from a battery through said switch, said system beingcharacterized by the feature that on rotation of said key switch intoits first position current passes into an ignition circuit to providemeans for effecting vehicle drive, and on further rotation of theaforesaid switch into its advanced positions current is diverted intocircuits which operate to raise an alarm should the vehicle be willfullytampered with.

This invention will now be further described by reference to thefollowing drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a circuit arrangement including a switch having fourswitch positions and eight contacts, representing an electrical alarmcircuit appropriate for use against anyone tampering with-a privatevehicle; and,

FIG. 2 represents a circuit arrangement including a switch having 12switch positions and 12 contacts, representing an electrical alarmcircuit appropriate for use against anyone tampering with a commercialvehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, thisfigure denotes a key operated barrel switch with four'switch positionseach 30 apart, allowing the switching operation to extend from to 90,the first position being at 0, the second at 30, the third at 60, andthe fourth at 90. There are eight contacts numbered 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,9. A hatched block denotes a closed contact and an unhatched blockdenotes an open contact.

The circuit diagram also shows an automobile battery a relay 17; adistributor an ignition coil 34; an ignition switch 12; a dry cell 27;alarms 23 and 26; a timer 30; a fuse or circuit breaker 24; andmicroswitches 21a 212.

With the key switch in the 90 position current passes from the battery10, through the lead 11, the switch contact 2, to the ignition switch12. From this switch 12 the current moves on to the ignition coil 34 andfrom there across the switch contact 6 to the distributor 15 passingfrom there to earth through the lead 16. The vehicle is now recognizedas being in drive.

With the key turned to the 30 position, the vehicle is in the set alarmcondition. In this condition current passes from the battery 10, throughthe lead 11, the closed switch contact 3, to energize the relay coil 19,and thence to the microswitches 21a 2lz. The current passing throughthese microswitches moves across the closed switch contact 4 to theswitch contact 6 and from there passes through the ignition coil 34, thefuse or circuit breaker 24, the switch contact 8, to earth. Thiscompletes the circuit to the relay coil, and thus the relay arms 18, 25,are drawn upwards to break the circuit to the alarms 23 and 26.

The switch contacts 5 and 9 are closed in the 30 switch position. Withthe switch contact 5 closed, a passage of current is maintained to therelay coil circuit when the switch contact 3 becomes open circuit onturning the key to 0 to switch the circuit to the alarm condition.Switch contacts 4, 5, 8,,and 9, remain closed during the turning of thekey switch from the 30 position to the 0 position.

When the switch is turned into the 0 position, the contact 3 is now openwith the contacts 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9 being closed. The current now passesfrom the battery 10 through lead I], the switch contact 5, to the relayarm 18, the relay coil 19, and the microswitches 21a 2lz. From themicroswitches the current then passes through the closed switch 4, acontact associated with the switch 6, through the lead 14 to theignition coil 34, and from the ignition coil it passes through the fuseor circuit breaker 24 and the switch contact 8 to earth. Therelay is nowenergized and awaits to be deenergized by-any tampering with theelectrical alarm system on the vehicle.

The switch contact 7 is closed in the 0 switch position to ensure anearth potential on both sides of the distributor, and the switch contact9 being closed in both the switch positions 30 and 0 current is passedfrom the auxiliary battery 27 through this switch contact 9 to the relayarm 25. The vehicle is now regarded as being in alarm.

The alarm may be set off by opening one of the microswitches 21a 212 orby disconnecting the main battery 10, or short circuiting the positiveside of this battery to the positive side of the ignition coil 13, or byblowing the fuse or circuit breaker 24. This causes the relay coil 19 todeenergize and the relay arms 18, 25, to drop causing current to passfrom the battery 10 through the lead 11, the switch contact 5, the relayarm 18, the timer 30, to the alarm 23 to earth thereby sounding the mainalarm.

0n the auxiliary side current also passes from the battery 27 throughthe switch contact 9 to the relay arm 25, the timer 30, the alarm 26,and returning to the battery along the lead 29 to complete the circuitand causing the alarm to sound.

Any attempt to wire in a spare ignition coil to the distributor from anypositive point on the vehicle will fail to start the vehicle on accountof the make and break action of the distributor being disturbed due tothe earth potential on the distributor existing through the closedswitch contact 7. If the main battery 10 is disconnected, the auxiliaryalarm 26 will continue to sound.

In a positive earthed vehicle, if a negative potential were taken fromany point on the vehicle and connected to the negative terminal of theignition coil the fuse or circuit breaker 24 would still open circuit.

In applying this invention for the protection of a commercial vehiclereference will now be made to FIG. 2. In this figure there are shown 12switch positions and 12 switch contacts extending around the full 360 ofa barrel type switch assembly with each pair of contact points locatedat 30 intervals around its circumference. Unlike the construction inFIG. I where the key only turns within the range between 0 and the keyin accordance with this further embodiment is adapted to turn for thefull 360 and can be removed at two positions of its travel at 0 or 360and 180 denoted by the terms alarm" and service alarm."

"Service alarm places the vehicle in an alarm condition in which workcan be carried out on the vehicle in regions covered by all theelectrical microswitches without setting off the alarm with theexception of one single microswitch which operates the alarm if anyonestarts opening the rear door of the vehicle and tampers with the goodscontained therein. While in service alarm" the vehicle can be drivennormally, and any electrical maintenance can be carried out by theremoval of any cables from the battery or any other apparatus connectedwith the electrical wiring without setting off the alarm.

The key serving to turn the switch is so constructed that within thesector between 0 and 90, it can move both clockwise andcounterclockwise, but after it reaches 180 where the key may be removedleaving the vehicle in the condition of service alarm, on any advancefrom this position to the 360 point, the key cannot be turnedcounterclockwise. When the switch has reached 360 the key may then bewithdrawn from the lock. Owing to the foregoing circumstances at the 270switch position, the switch contact positions must be identical withthose existing at the 90 position, namely, to effect drive, alarm, andrear door protection of the vehicle.

To carry out the service alarm function, the vehicle must be capable ofbeing driven, and hearing this in mind the switch contacts 2, 6, 9, 10,and 12, must be closed when the switch has arrived at the 180 sectorposition.

With the switch contact 12 closed in switch positions 150 and 180current from the auxiliary battery 27 passes through a lead 31 and theleads 32, 20, to set the auxiliary alarm and maintain the relay coil 19energized for operation if the circuit through the bank of microswitchesis broken by opening the normally closed switch Zlz which serves toalarm the rear door of the vehicle.

When the switch is turned into the 30 or the 330 position, the switchcontacts 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9 are closed.

The closure of the bridged contact switch 3 allows current to pass fromthe battery 10, through the lead 11 to the relay coil 19, the normallyclosed microswitches 21a 212, and through the closed switch contacts 4,the coil 34, the fuse or circuit breaker 24, the closed switch contacts8, through the lead 33, to earth.

The closure of the bridged contact switch 5 allows current to pass froman auxiliary battery 27, through the leads 31 and 28 into the relay arm25. The current flow through the relay coil 19 and into the two arms 18and 25 draws these arms upwards away from their normal closed circuit toenergize the relay 17, and thereby set the alarm.

Turning the switch to the 60 or the 300 positions does not have anyadditional effect on the situation.

When the switch is turned into the 90 or 270 position, the switchcontacts 2, 6, and 13, are closed. This allows drive of the vehicle, thealarm to be actuated if the vehicle itself is being tampered with, andthe alarm to be also actuated if the goods within the vehicle are beingtampered with by access through the rear door. The closure of thebridged contact switch 2 allows a passage of current from the battery 10through the lead 11, the ignition switch 12, the ignition coil 34, andthence over the lead 14 across the bridged contact switch 6, through thedistributor l5 and along the lead 16 to earth, thereby completing thedrive circuit. By the closing of switch contact 13 in the position 90and 270, the alarm is set to be operated by closing of switch 2. Contact13 draws current through the lead 35 to pass through the normally openmicroswitch Z at the rear door of the commercial vehicle to actuate ahorn relay in dependency on its polarity.

The switch positions, when the switch is turned into 240 or 120, are notin use, as also is the case when the switch is turned to 210. For theswitch positioned at 150 the switch contact points 9, 10, 11, and 12 areclosed and the auxiliary alarm is in the first stage of being set.

The closure of contact switches and 11 at this position enables thepassage of current from the auxiliary battery 27 to the switch contact11, through the relay coil 19, to

microswitch 212 through switch contact 10 to the neutral of the battery27.

On turning the switch position from 150 to 180, switch contact 11 opens.Current is then maintained through switch contact 12 which is closed at150 position and remains closed moving through to the 180 position tomaintain the relay in an energized condition.

Switch contact 9 is closed at the 150 and 180 switch positions to passcurrent along lead 28 to relay arm 25, to timer 30, to sound alarm 26,if relay coil is deenergized.

1f the switch 212 is opened relay arms 18 and 25 return to theirdeenergized condition and current will pass from battery 27 to soundboth alarms 23 and 26.

After the switch is in 180 position the key is then turned to the 270position to effect drive with the rear door alarm through contact switch13. l

A further switch Z which operates in conjunction with the closing andopening of the rear door or doors is fitted to protect the goods anddraws current from the main battery to operate a relay associated withthe main horn.

When the rear door is closed switch 21z is closed and switch Z is open.While switch is in position 90 and 270 switch contact 13 is closed,drawing negative (or positive) current depending on the polarity fromthe battery 10 through the switch 13 to Z.

By the opening of the rear door the horn is actuated and notifies thedriver that the rear door has been opened.

If it is desired to effect a legal entry into the protected part of thevehicle whilst in alarm, the switch Y, lying parallel across themicroswitch 212, is closed. By this means the switch 211 may be openedwithout setting off the alarm.

Various minor constructional modifications may be made in the circuitwithout affecting the invention which is limited solely by thelimitations in scope determined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An alarm system for motor vehicles comprising in combination:

A. a multicontact, multipositioned key activated switch;

B. a source of electric current supplied to said switch;

C. a relay powered by said source through said switch;

D. auxiliary switch means for deactivating said relay positioned betweensaid relay and said switch; and

E. an alarm powered by said source through said relay, said alarmarranged to be disconnected when said switch is in a first position forremoving said key, said alarm further arranged to be disconnected whensaid switch is in a second position for operating said motor vehicle,said alarm further arranged to be set when said switch is in a thirdposition, and said alarm further arranged to be activated when saidswitch is in a fourth position and when said relay is deactivated bytampering with said auxiliary switch means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary switch meanscomprises the electrical system of said vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary switch means isinterposed in the mechanical system of said vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source of current is thebattery of said vehicle.

1. An alarm system for motor vehicles comprising in combination: A. amulticontact, multipositioned key activated switch; B. a source ofelectric current supplied to said switch; C. a relay powered by saidsource through said switch; D. auxiliary switch means for deactivatingsaid relay positioned between said relay and said switch; and E. analarm powered by said source through said relay, said alarm arranged tobe disconnected when said switch is in a first position for removingsaid key, said alarm further arranged to be disconnected when saidswitch is in a second position for operating said motor vehicle, saidalarm further arranged to be set when said switch is in a thirdposition, and said alarm further arranged to be activated when saidswitch is in a fourth position and when said relay is deactivated bytampering with said auxiliary switch means.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said auxiliary switch means comprises the electrical system ofsaid vehicle.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary switchmeans is interposed in the mechanical system of said vehicle.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said source of current is the battery ofsaid vehicle.